I 



From the First Settlement to I860. 



id c 



BY DAVID BARCLAY. 
(I 



EARLY HISTORY. 

Nearly three centuries ago, when Henry Hudson returned down the 
river that bears his name, he cast anchor in. what is now called New- 
burgh Bay. Here the famous navigator was detained by boisterous 
winds, which for a short time prevented his adventuring a passage 
through the Highlands. While waiting for more favorable weather, he 
and his officers took note of the surrounding country., and this entry was 
made September 30, 1609, in the log book or journal of the voyage: 

" The thirtieth was fair weather, and the wind at southeast a stiff 
gale between the mountains. , We rode still the afternoon. The people 
of the country came aboard us, and brought some small skins with them, 
which we bought, for knives and triiles. This is a very pleasant place 
to build a town ou." 

Evidently, the explorers were deeply impressed by the beautiful and 
advantageous situation of the adjacent lands, though the exact location 
of the place so commended for a town site is of course uncertain. 

Almost two hundred years later, the local name of Balmville was 
given to a tract on the west shore of Newburgh Bay, immediately north 
of the present City of Newburgh, N. Y. It was so called after the 
giant poplar tree of the Balm of Gilead species, standing in the old 
King's highway, now Balmville road, about a mile north of the city. 
The boundaries of the locality are somewhat indefinite; originally they in- 
cluded only the hamlet in the neighborhood of the tree, but afterwards em- 
braced a larger area. For the purpose of this sketch, they will be con- 
sidered as including that part of the German patent located north of 
the City of Newburgh, the patent to Samuel Edmonds and others, and 
the southeasterly part of the patent to Francis Harrison and company; 
in all, a tract of about two miles in length from the city northward, 
and a little over a mile in width from the river westward. 

The Waranawangkongs were the Indian proprietors of lands on the 
west side of the Hudson in this vicinity, and for some distance above 
and below. They used the Dans Kamer for a place of worship, and 
were a tribe of the great Lenni Lenape confederacy. During the period 
of the Dutch administration no settlement was made in this immediate 
locality, the natives remaining in possession until after the English oc- 
cupation. In 1684, Governor Dongan bought from the Indian proprietors, 
a tract of land owned by them on the west side of the Hudson, extend- 
ing from the Paltz south to Haverstraw. 1 An old manuscript states that 
this purchase was made by the Governor, " for the use of his royal High- 

1. Ruttenber's History of Orange County and Newburgh, 21. 



46 B,\LM VILLI 



ness, James, Duke of York and Albany, from the natives at the charge 
of iiif revenue of this Colony there belonging to said Duke of York, 
and had do oilier inhabitants upon it bu1 the natives, who were then 
numerous. That by the demise of King Ch. 2nd, and the Duke's acces 
sion id the Crown, the same land became invested in the Crown." ] 

n so remained until 1694, when captain John Evans, of EL M. Ship 
Richmond, obtained from Colonel Fletcher, then Governor of this prov- 
ince, a patent for a very la rue trad on the west shore of the Hudson. 
extending from stony Point aortb to the south line of New Paltz, and 
westward to the Shawangunk Mountains. The grant included within 
its Pounds two-thirds of Orange County, and pans of Ulster and Rock- 
land Counties, and was estimated to contain aboul six hundred and fifty 
thousand acres. The only settlemenl thereon at the time was that of 
Major MacGregorie's heirs and followers at Murderer's Creek, in the 
present towns of Cornwall and New Windsor. The granting of this 
and other large tracts was afterwards condemned by the Earl of Bello- 
tr.oni during his administration, and the patent to Captain Evans was 

annulled by an Act of the Assembly, which was finally confin 1 by the 

home government. The title then reverted to the crown, and the tract 
was subsequently granted in smaller parcels to individuals and companies. 

Thei earliest settlemenl in the vicinity, except Major MacGregorie's 
already mentioned, was upon the German patent which embraced the 
present City of Newburgh and the southern part of Balmville, and the 
patents to Melchoir Gulcb and Peter Johnson, located south of the Dans 
[vainer. These three patents were granted to German Lutherans from 
the Lowei- Palatinate on the Rhine, whose country had been devasted 
by the armies of Prance, and who were compelled to abandon their pos- 
sessions, and seek new homes in other lands. A small hand of the refu- 
gees, accompanied by their minister, Joshua Kockerthal, arrived at Lon- 
don in 1708, and petitioned to be transported to some of Her Majesty's 
plantations in America. Their petition was referred to the Lords Com- 
missioners of Trade and Plantations, who reported: "They are in num 
b( r forty one, viz: Ten men. ten women and twenty-one children. That 
they are very necessitous and in the utmost want, not having anything 
(but what they get by charity) to subsist themselves. That they have 
been reduced to this miserable condition by the ravages commited by tiie 
French in the Power Palatinate, where they lost all they had. That 
they have produced to us several Testimonials from the Bayliffs or Prin- 
cipal! Magistrates in the Villages where they dwelt, which by the assist- 
ance of the .Ministers of the Lutheran Church here we have Examined 
and find that they give a good character of the said minister and the 
others with him. * * * We humbly propose that they be sent to Settle 
upon Hudson's River in the Province of 1 New York, where they may be 
useful! to this Kingdom, particularly in the production of naval Stores 
and as a frontier againsl the ffrench ami their Indians. * We further 

offer. That before their departure they may be made Denizens of this 
Kingdom, for their greater Encouragement in the Enjoymenl of the 
Privileges accruing by such Letters of Denization."' 

Her Majesty's Council approved the report, and ordered them made 
denizens without fees or charges, which was accordingly done on August 

v v Colonial Mss.. r.and Papers, VII. US. 
Documentarj Historj ol N V. in. Ml, 



Balmville. 47 



25, 1708. Queen Ann also ordered, they should be sent to New York and 
settled there at " Her own Expenses," and to provide for the subsistence 
of Joshua Kockerthal, their minister, she recommended a grant to him of 
a reasonable portion of land for a Glebe, not exceeding live hundred 
acres, witli liberty to sell a part for his maintenance until he should be 
" in a condition to live by the produce of the remainder. They were 
also to receive 9d a day per head, during the first year of their residence 
in New York. Before they set sail, another small party of fourteen 
refugees from the Palatinate and H'olstein reached London, and through 
Joshua Kockerthal petitioned to be sent to New York witli the others. 
This was granted, and twelve of their number joined the company, the 
remaining two. it appears, having entered " into the Service of the Lord 
Lovelace." Arriving at New' York in the winter of 170S-9, they were 
soon afterwards transferred to the tract then called " Quasek Creek and 
Tanskamir." The exact date of their settlement is unknown, but the 
Council Minutes indicate that they had located here prior to May 26, 
1709. 

It was nofc until ten years later that they finally received a patent. 
Meanwhile a survey of the lands had been made, and a portion allotted 
to each. In 1714, they petitioned the Governor, that as the tract was all 
upland they were unable " to subsist themselves and ffamilys thereon 
for want of some meadow Land for ffodder for their Cattle in winter," 
and praying for a grant of unappropriated meadow ground lying about 
a mile behind their lots. * Again in 1718, through Joshua Kockerthal, 
they petitioned the Governor for several changes in the proposed grant, 
among others that the allotments be made to the heads of families, 
and not to them and their wives and children, on the ground that the 
'latter method might "hereafter be a means of Disturbance and Dis- 
agreement in their respective familys with their children." 5 The re- 
quest was nott granted. During the time that elapsed from the settle- 
ment until the patent was issued, Joshua Kockerthal and another mem- 
ber of the company died, and several moved away. Among the latter 
was Peter Rose, who had been allotted lot No. 6, the first lot; north of 
the present City of Newburgh. He sold to Burger Meynders, a native 
of Beaverwyck, of Dutch descent, who then resided at Kingston, where 
he followed the blacksmith's trade. From there Meynders removed to 
the lot purchased by him in Balmville, and became one of the patentees 
of the tract. 

The patent was at length issued on December 18, 1719. It conveyed 
2.190 acres of land, beginning at Quassaiek Creek and running north 
along the river 219 chains to a point on the property now owned by Mrs. 
Fellows in Balmville; thence in a westerly direction 100 chains, crossing 
the Balmville road a short distance south of the present residence of 
Mr. H: K.I Bush-Brown and through lands now owned by the heirs of 
Mr. George Gordon, deceased: thence southerly keeping 100 chains distant 
from the river to Quassaiek Creek, and thence easterly to the place of 
beginning. The tract was sub-divided into nine lots, containing 1(350 
acres and a Glebe lot of 500 acres, the remaining in acres bring re- 
served for highways. Each lot and the Glebe extended from the river 
to the west bounds of the patent, and the lots were numbered com- 



4. Documentary History of X. Y., III. 573. 

5. Documentary History of N. V., III. r>75. 



is Balmville. 



tnencing a1 the south from 1 to 9. The Glebe was located between lota 
Nos. r> and 6, and was bounded on the south by the presenl South Street, 
and on the north by what is now North Street and the city limits. 

The lots were granted as follows: No. 1. by Quassaick Creek, to 
George Lockstedl and Anna Elizabetha his wife. Margaratha, Anna Sarah 
and Catharina, their children. 250 acres; No. 2, to Michael Weygand and 
Anna Catharina his wife. Tobias, George and Anna Maria, their children, 
250 acres: No. .'!. to Herman Sehuneman and Elizabeth his wife, 100 
acres; No. 4, to Christian I Ieinrikeu. 100 acres; No. 5, to Sybilla Charlotta 
Kockerthal, widow of Joshua Kockerthal, Christian .Joshua. Benigna 
Sibylla and Susanna Sibylla, their children. 250 acres; N<>. 6, to Burger 
Meynders. 100 acres: No. 7, to Jacob Webber and Anna Elizabetha his 
■wife. Eva Maria and Eva Elizabetha. their children, 200 acres; No. 8, 
to Johannes Fischer and .Maria Barbara his wife, 100 acres; No. 9, to 
Andries Volck and Anna Catharina his wife, George Hieronymus, Maria 
Barbara and Anna Jertruyd, their children. .*!<>(> acres. The Glebe was 
granited to» Andries Volck and .Jacob Webber during their lives and to 
their successors in trust, for the maintenance and support of a Lutheran 
minister. 6 Cots Nos. 6, 7. S and '9 are situated in what is now called 
Balmville, the others with the Glebe are contained , in the present City 
of Newburgh. The original owners of the four lots in Balmville did not 
long remain in possession of their tracts. Burger Meynders sold lot No. 
• '.. to Burroughs Holmes; Jacob Webber sold lot No. 7. August 5, 1724, 
for llo pounds, to Zacharias Hoffman; Johannes Fischer and Andries 
Volck also sold lots Nos. 8 and !). February'20, 17L ( 2. for 130 pounds, to 
Zacharias Hoffman, who remained the owner of the'lots until his death 
in 1714. 7 

A tract of about 400 acres of land surrounding the Balm of Gilead 
tree, seems to have remained unconveyed 'by patent until after the Revo- 
lution, though settled upon long before that period. It probably was 
supposed to have been included in the German patent. 

On June 19, 17.S(i. the Surveyor Genera] of New York, issued a certifi- 
cate id" location, which states, that Samuel Edwards, James Demott, 
Isaac Demott. John Roe, William Bloomer and Eleazer Lucey, under an 
Act for raising troops for the defence of the State on. bounties of unap- 
propriated lands, and an Act for raising troops to complete the bine in 
the service of the United Stales, had located, and were entitled to a 
parcel of land in the precinct of Newburgh, lister County: "Beginning 
at a chestnut tree standing on the west bank of Hudson's River, marked 
No. 219, being the inortheasl corner of a tract of land granted to nine 
German families," 8 thence running westerly along the north line of the 
German patent 100 chains to the northwest corner thereof, thence north- 
erly parallel with the river to the south line of the Harrison patent, 
thence easterly along its south line to the river, and down along the river 
to the place of beginning; containing Ins acres. The Surveyor General's 
certificate shows that the land "was not occupied or improved by any 
person on or before .Inly 25, 1782," other than Samuel Edmonds, James 
Demott, Isaac Demott. John Roe, William Bloomer and Eleazer Lucey. 
A patent fur the land was granted to them November 17. 1786. ' Their 



6. Documetatarj History of N. T., III. 578. 8. If . Y. Colonial MSS., Land Papers. XLI. 108. 

enber's History of Orange Co. and Newburgh, 122. 9. Bookof Patents, XIX. 88. 




THE BALM OF GILEAD TREE. 



Balmville. 49 



names are found in the muster rolls of various regiments of the Militia 
or the Line, and through their services they were enabled to obtain the 
above granjt. The patent to Francis Harrison and company of 5,600 
acres adjoined the patent to Samuel Edmonds and others on the north 
and west. It was issued July 10, 1714. 

Prior to 1798, the territory now embracing the City and Town of New- 
burgh, was for over a century a portion of Ulster County, which extended 
south to Murderer's Creek. In that year, the boundaries of Orange 
County were changed to the present lines. 

THE BALM OF GILBAD THEE. 

But little is known of the early history of the tree that gave its name 
to surrounding locality. Several traditions as to its origin are men- 
tioned in Eager's History of Orange County. According to one of these 
tales, Humphrey Merritt brought it when a small branch from the moun- 
tains near New Jersey, at the beginning of or during the Revolution. 
Another legend asserts that it originated from a riding switch which 
was stuck in the ground, and there took root. Mr. Eager also gives 
the statement of Isaac Demott, who over a century ago owned the land 
where the tree stands. He said that it grew there naturally, and when 
large enough for a fence rail, he cut and used it for that purpose, and 
it sprouted again from the stump. 10 

The recollections of Mr. James Donnelly in regard to this tree are 
given in Ruttenber's History of Orange County and Newburgh. Mr. 
Donnelly says that his own observation confirms the statement of Isaac 
Demott, and that he first saw the tree when lie was, between eight and 
nin,v years old; (which must have been about 1782), it was then six or 
eight inches in diameter with a large spreading top. Mr. Ruttenber 
also cites the evidence of Mr. Gilbert Williams, as tending to show that 
the tree is much older than the above statements indicate. Mr. Wil- 
liams said that John Cosman, who was an apprentice to William Bloomer, 
the blacksmith, before the Revolution, stated that while an apprentice 
lie had often shod horses under the tree, which was then large. Mr. 
Williams measured the tree in 1832, when its circumference two feet 
from the ground was fifteen feet and two inches, and in 1868, he found 
it to be nineteen feet and five inches, showing a growth of four feet and 
three inches in thirty-six years. From its rate of growth and what he 
had learned of the tree, he was of the opinion that its age was much 
greater than that given by the Demott tradition. l| 

In the old times (an extract obtained from the buds was supposed to 
have considerable medicinal virtues, in the curing of wounds, rheuma- 
tism and other ailments. The tree now measures twenty-one feet and 
eight inches in circumference two feet from the ground, a growth of two 
feet and three inches in the thirty-two years which have elapsed since 
the date of Mr. Williams' last measurement. For the past few years it 
has evinced signs of decay, and has lost some of the immense spreading 
branches. As the road formerly ran the tree was on the east line, but 
several years ago Mr. H. K. Bush-Brown, who owns the adjacent land, 

10. Eager's History of Orange County, 200. 

11. Ruttenber's History of Orange Comity and Newburgh, 182, 



50 Balmville. 



added ;i portion to the highway in such a manner as to bring the loca- 
tion (if the tree in the centre of the road. 

OLD RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS. 

Michael Demott settled in Balmville al an early day. In 17">1. with 
others, he signed a petition praying for a patent to themselves and their 
successors of the Glebe lands, in order to establish thereon a minister of 
the Church of England, and a schoolmaster. The Demotl family is said 
to have been of Huguenot ancestry, and Michael, the first of the name 
to settle here, wa.s perhaps a descendant of Michael Mott, or de -Mot. of 
Kingston, trooper, who in 1664, with several of his company, petitioned 
for the grant of a valley near thai village to lie used as a pasture for 
their horses. 1 - During the Revolution and afterwards. Michael Demott 
kepi a tavern which stood near the Balm of Gilead tree. The house it 
Is said was "a small affair." Two of his family \\*'n' patentees of the 
trad of 408 acres already mentioned, and they were! the owners of a con- 
siderable portion of the patent. Part of their land was sold to William 
Bloomer, but the larger portion became the property of Samuel Ellis. 
After the death of Ellis, his heirs conveyed by several deeds. 1810-28, 
to Daniel Wilson, who lived on the south side- of Wilson's Lane, east of 
the present Grand Avenue. 1 1 is son. Daniel Wilson. Junior, built and 
occupied the house now owned by Miss Mary A. Ellison. 

Nehemiah Denton lived on Lot No. P. of the German patent. During 
the Revolution he owned and operated a Lrrist mill on Pine brook, and 
also conducted a freighting establishment and store at his dock where 
the brook joins the river. The mill was situated in the glen now owned 
by Mr. .lames A. I'. Ramsdell, on the north bank of the stream, opposite 
a pool not far from the river. Traces of the old dam a short distance 
west of the mill site can still be seen, and two of the millstones are 
preserved by Mi-. Ramsdell near his residence. in addition to supplying 
the local demand. Denton was also employed in grinding flour for the 
army. Mr. Donnelly, writing id' this time, states: "The hard winter of 
1771), made a very deep impression on my mind. We were fourteen days 
without bread. Owing to the severity of the weather the mills could 
not run much of the time, and when they did run it was on flour for the 
army. We had plenty of everything else, but missed the bread. * * * 
The nulls were poor affairs. There were only two. Hasbrouck's ami 
Nehemiah Denton's; the latter en one of the streams north of the village. 

For forty days that winter the water did not drop from tl aves. It 

snowed almost every day. We did no) see the sun until ten o'clock in 
the morning, and then it was only visible for a short time and looked as 
if it was wallowing through a snow bank. The snow was even with 
the roof id' our piazza. Between the war and the weather, wo had such 
times as we would not be likely to forget. 

William Bloomer resided in Balmville before and after the Revolution. 
His house, it is said, stood where the residence of Mr. II. K. Bush Brown 
now- is. and his blacksmith shop nearly opposite the Balm id' Gilead ;nv 
on the west side of the road. He was born in 1749, and died in the 



' • '• il >■■ ill WSS , l -m i Papprs. I. s;. 
1 ">. lam County ancl Newburgh, 16! 




PINE BROOK. 



Balmville. 51 



70th year of his age at the J>;ins Kamer, where he owned a farm and 
is buried. From a paper written by him a few years before his death, 
it appears that when but a lad lie was sent to be an apprentice to the 
blacksmith's trade at Murderer's (Veek. Later lie set up a shop at 
Balmville, and at about the close of the Revolution became a member 
of the Society of Friends. Some of his descendants reside in the neigh- 
borhood. His property on the Albany road was afterwards the home- 
stead of Latting Carpenter. 

Morris Flewwelling, the owner of part of lot No. 7, was a vestryman 
of St. G'eorge/s Church in 1773, and Supervisor of the town in 1776. 
Captain Coleman of Nantucket purchased from Morris Flewwelling in 
1774. He erected a building near where the residence of the late Hon. 
John W. Brown now is. and used it for his Nantucket trade. 

Prior to 1795, Abraham W. Van Deuzern Avas the owner of a farm of 
250 acres, extending from about where the north line of the Powelton 
farm intersects the Balmville road, sonth to Downing Avenue and from 
the rlvler west for over a mile to the patent line, and included also a 
small tract of 18 acres from Downing Avenue sonth to the brook, and 
front Grand Avenue to the river. In that year Van Denzern sold tnc 
farm to Alexander Murray, who afterwards conveyed a portion of it to 
Samuel Burr. In 1818 Burr sold S3 acres lying east of the Balmville 
road and north of Downing Avenue, to his son. Samuel Burr, Junior, by 
whom it was conveyed to George W. McLean, and by McLean, in 1727, 
to Thomas Powell. The parcel of IS acres above mentioned, lying south 
of Downing Avenue, was sold in 1812, by Murray to Isaac Belknap, 
Junior, who carried on the brick making business there for many years. 

After the close of the Revolutionary war. Major Joseph Pettengill, of 
the Massachusetts Line, located on lot No. of the German patent. He 
was one of the officers who took leave of General Washington at Fraun- 
ces' tavern in New York, December 4. 1783. and is described as "large 
and rather fine looking, very jocose and pleasant.'' 14 At the river side 
near the present engine works, he established a boat landing, from 
whence was shipped large quantities of ship timber, staves and shingles. 
There was probably no dock, the vessels being loaded from lighters or 
scows. The Major died prior to 1800, and left several children. His 
son Joseph sold a large part of the farm to William Seymour, and in 1804 
advertised for sale the homestead lot lying east of the Balmville road 
as follows: 

"To be sold— That valuable lot of land on which the subscriber lives, 
containing eighteen or twenty acres of land, handsomely situated on the 
bank of the river about one mile from the Village of Newburgh, on the 
road leading north. It is well situated for a store or tavern, as the road 
crosses the high road leading to a thick settled and flourishing country. 
There are on said farm, two good dwelling houses, one where the road 
crosses and the other on the river, where formerly there has been a land- 
ing place and rented last year for 16 pounds; it may with little expense 
be made a good place of trade. There is on said farm about nine acres 
of good clover meadow, about 96 bearing apple trees of excellent fruit. 

] I. Ruttenber's History of i irange i loujity and Nfwburccti, 180, 



•V2 Balmville. 



and a number of other fruit trees, sudi as Damsons, English plums, 
peaches ; ml curra n t s, a beautiful garden plot, a good well by the door, 
and a living spring on the premises. It is every way agreeable and 
worthy \ne attention of any gentleman who wishes to reside in a country 
s<at. If not Sold by the 20th jof April to be Le{l for one year. Any 
pdson wishing to purchase may know the terms by applying to the Sui>- 
Bcriber, living on the premises, who will give an indisputable title for 
the same. 

Foby. 27, 1804. JOSEPH PETTENGILL." 

Daniei Smith was a merchant at Balmville, and also engaged in freight- 
ing from his dock on the river bank south of Tine brook. His store was 
on the east side of the Albany road where it turns and runs over the 
hill. The building lias been converted into a dwelling, and is still stand- 
ing. Tie town records of 1796, describe a district of the mad as: " be- 
ginning a' ye- Stone School house, thence southwardly to ye Corner ot 
ye Road lor foot of ye 1 1111 > by Daniel Smith's Store." The stone school 
house stood on the lot now occupied by the .Middle Hope District School 
building, and was destroyed by tire many years ago. 

The Butterworths were an influential family, owning lands and carry- 
ing on business In the vicinity of the Balm of GileacJ tree during the 
early part of the century. Henry Butterworth was Captain of a com- 
pany of artillery, of which Purdy Fowler was 1st Lieutenant, and John 
CaimOn 2nd Lieutenant. The headquarters of the company were one or 
two buildings called cannon houses on the south side of the highway, 
west of Butterworth's store, and nearly opposite the present Balmville 
School house. The company was ordered into active service during the 
second war with Croat Britain, and was on duty at the Staten Island 
fortifications for the defence of the Narrows. In a general order, dated 
September 1, 1812, the Commander-in-Chief announced to the several in- 
dependent companies, one of which was Butterworth's, the high sense he 
entertained of " their patriotic promptitude in obeying the call of their 
country" and praised them for their "appearance and behaviour."" A 
number of cannon balls of small calibre found on lands of the late Mr. 
George Cordon, deceased, were undoubtedly tired by these artillerymen 
In target practice. Henry Butterworth is buried in the old Balmville 
grave yard. Caleb Collin, formerly of Nantucket, was the owner of a 
farm south of Samuel Burr's land. He sold in 1807, to William Sey- 
mour. CofOn was a sloop captain, for sometime in command of the 
" Belvidere," a packet plying between Newburgh and New York. This 
vessel is advertised in 1800, as having "large and elegant accommoda- 
tion for passengers." William Seymour owned several parcels of land 
in the southern part of Balmville about a century ago. lie was a mer- 
chant In Newburgh, and engaged in building ships for the Liverpool 
trade. Thomas; Lowell became the owner of a large tract, purchasing 
from the heirs of William Seymour and others. That portion of Mr. 
Lowell's lands situated west of the Balmville road and known as the 
Powelton farm, is now owned by the children of his daughter, the late 
Mrs. Frances L. L. Ramsdell. The pail lying east of the road extending 



15. Military Papersof Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor ot N. v.. [.391, 




BRANDYWINE BROOK. 



Balmville. 53 



from Brandywine brook to and including- lands now owned by Mr. Charles 
S. Jenkins, was' sold by .Mr. Powell in several parcels. Other names ol 
old residents and land owners appear on the road lists quoted in siilv 
sequent pages. 

It. was customary in early times, for the owners of live stuck to mark 
them for identification, and their private marks were noted and entered 
in the town records. The following are samples of these entries: 

" 1767, Dec. 23d. Humphrey Merrit's. A hole in ye Right Ear, and 
a happenny under Side of ye left Ear. 

"1776, April 3d. Caleb Coffin's. A step taken out of ye fore Side of 
ye Right Ear, and a Slope off the hinder part of ye left Ear. 

" 1777, Jany. 16th. Stephen Ireland's. A Swallow's Fork in ye Bight 
Ear, and a happenny the under side of ye same, and a happenny I lie fore 
side of ye left Ear." 

HIGHWAYS. 

The Balmville road, formerly called King street or tne King's high- 
way, was in the early days of the settlement probably only a trail or at 
best a rough path through the forest, used by the Palatines and their 
successors. During the time of the Revolution, it no doubt often re- 
sounded to the tread of marching troops and echoed the hoof beats of 
Washington's horse, as he rode to and from his headquarters, situated on 
the same road not far below. Even then it could have been only a very 
primitive sort of a highway, and is described as a road through the woods. 
Indeed there was little need of a carriage drive, for Mr. Donnelly states 
in his recollections of this period, that in the Village of Newburgh, three 
persons owned wagons, a few had ox-carts and " Captain Coleman up 
at the brook had a Nantucket calash." 1G The town records show that 
in 1796, Robert Carskaddin was overseer of a district of the road " be- 
ginning opposite to William Bloomer's house north of ye Bridge, from 
thence South to St. George's Church." William Bloomer's residence lias 
been already located, and St. George's was formerly the Palatine Church, 
the site of which has lately been marked by the Society of the Daughters 
of the American Revolution. The following named persons were then 
assessed for highway taxes on this district of the road: "John Patter- 
son, Stephen Albertson, Joseph Hallett, Daniel Smith, Jr., Silas Coleman, 
Abraham Van Duzer, Daniel Birdsall, William Jackson, Moses Lyons, 
George Pettingal, John Chambers, Joseph Pettingal, Thomas Carskaddin, 
Daniel Kniffen. Richard Hudson. Lemuel Wright, Martin Wygant, Jr., 
■ Oakes and Robert Dolph." 

The stream crossing the road at William Bloomer's is named Pine 
creek on a map of the Palatine tract made by Surveyor General Graham 
in 1713. It was sometimes called Andrics' creek, from Andries Volck, 
the owner of Lot No. 9, through which it flows, and later was known as 
Denton's brook. The stream running through Powelton farm, crossing 
the road at the foot of the hill and thence through lands of the writer 
and others, is named on the same map Brandywine creek. Formerly a 



16. Kutteuber's History of Orange County and Newburgh, 171. 



5 1 Balmvillb. 



dense foresl covered the trad through which they Mowed, and doubtless 
the streams were considerably larger than they now arc 

A little way northwest from the Balm of Gilead tree, the old road 
turns north over the hills. The present highway running north from 
the school bouse, joins the old road further on. After the Revolution 
the people would have nothing that reminded them of kings, and so they 
changed I he name ol the highway in the village to Liberty Street. in 
Balmville ii became known as the All. any road, and later the Ltalwville 
road. 

The highway to Fostertown was used in very early times. The road 
running northeasterly from the tree was opened in comparatively recent 
years. A road long since closed, led to the river from a point south ol 
and very near William Bloomer's house, and probably joined the road 
now running to the river, east, ol' the present Grand Avenue. It was u 
highway ol' some importance, leading as it did to the docks and freight- 
ing houses on the short', and passing Denton's grist null. The town 
records of L796, describe the road and thai to 'Fostertown as, " beginning 
ai Ellis' Landing, from thence West to Win. Bloomer's, thence about 
North West as ye road runs by Daniel Smith's and ye house of JameB 
Waring at Fostertown." Reuben Holmes was, during that year, over- 
seer of this district and the following named persons were assessed for 

highway taxes: "William Johnston, Daniel Aldrulge, Phillips, James 

De Molt, Silas Leonard, Robert Denton, Daniel Smith, Joseph Case, 
William Smith, .lames Harris, William Bloomer, John Ward, John Albert- 
son, John De Mott, Samuel Wandte, Caleb Ferris, Mandeville Duiei, 
Samuel Wandle, Jr., and William Wandle." The western part of the 
present road from the Balm of Gilead tree to the river, formerly called 
Wilson's Lane, was opened later by Daniel Wilson, who bought the sur- 
rounding lands from the heirs of Samuel Ellis, deceased. 

The street extending from the Balmville road to the river and m.w 
called Downing Avenue, was named after the late Charles Downing, a 
noted pomologtst, who owned lands to the northward. It has been m 
use for many years. North Street, though not within the limits of Dalin- 
Ville, bounds it lor a considerable distance on the smit.li. This si reel 
was used ai an early dale as a means of access to the river, the easterlj 
end meeting the strand road, which ran northward along the bluffs and 
to the landing place on the shore, at about where the engine works aaid 
docks now are. 

The former North Plank road, runs northwesterly from North Street. 
It was; built by a company organized in 1850, and afterwards became 
a, turnpike. Grand Avenue was opened about thirty years ago, at a 
later period than that described in this sketch. 

THE POWELTON HOUSE. 

This once noted hostelry stood a short distance northeast of the pres- 
eni Powelton Club House. The entrance to the club grounds was formerly 
the smith gateway Of the hotel property. The northernmost part of the 

building, a low- wooden structure with sloping roof, was probably erected 



Balmville. 55 



as a farm house. Before its enlargement and conversion into a hotel, it 
was fjor Jmany years used as a school. The Newburgh Telegraph of 
April 17, 1834, contains the following advertisement: 

" Hoarding school for young Ladies at Powelton on the Hudson River, 
one mile and a quarter north of the Village of Ne-\vburgh, is now open 
for the reception of boarders and day scholars. S. CURTIS." 

Here also taught ai subsequent periods, the Revd. S. Irenaeus Prime, 
Prof. Foote and Mr. Bradford. After the school was discontinued, Mr. 
Powell, the owner, built large brick additions to the original building, and 
leased the property for a summer hotel. Before the civil war, it was 
much frequented by wealthy Southern planters, and was a fashionable 
resort. The building was destroyed by fire Sept. 10, 1870. 

THE OLD POOR HOUSE. 

Prior to 1814, there was no permanent home for the poor of the dis- 
trict included in the present City and Town of Newburgh, though a sys- 
tem for aiding and maintaining indigent persons had been in operation 
for some time, and annual appropriations were made for that purpose. 
It was voted in 1800, " to hire a house for the poor," and in 1805, that 
" the Overseers of the Poor be authorized to contract with one or more 
persons to take the whole of the poor, and put out the children as they 
shall see best for the town." " 

In 1807, the Overseers bought from William Seymour, ten acres of 
land, a part of the old Pettingill farm, at the northeast corner of North 
Street aud the Balmville road, where they erected in 1814, the first poor 
house. The building has been greatly altered and enlarged by the pres- 
ent owner, Mr. Henry Carter. Mr. E. M. Ruttenber's History of Orange 
County and Newburgh, contains the following statement from an annual 
report of the Overseers, when this building was used as a poor house. u 

1827. House Expenses. 

Victualing, Clothing, etc $ 207.71 

Wood 81.87 

Doctor's bill 03.10 

Keeper's wages 50.00 

Temporary relief 051.75 

$1,144.52 
Receipts. 

Tax $ 750.00 

On hand 385.41^ 

Fines, etc 17.81M} 



$ 1,153.23 



The Orange County poor house was built in 1830, and shortly after- 
wards the Newburgh poor house property was sold to Mr. Daniel Rogers. 



IT. Ruttenber's History of Orange County and Newburgh, 220. 
is. Ruttenber's History of Orange County and Newburgh. 



56 Balmville. 



Later, the presenl City and Town of Newburgh withdrew from the Coun- 
ty system, and erected an Alms House of their own. 



INDUSTRIES. 

There was a considerable settlement in the neighborhood of the Balm- 
ville tree in Revolutionary times. .Michael Demon's tavern. Nehemiah 
Denton's grist mill, and William Bloomer's house and blacksmith shop 
have been already mentioned. After the war, the business of the place 
increased, until it rivalled Newburgh as a center for trade and a shipping 
point on the river. A deed of lands next south of Michael Demott's 
describes it as a tract "with dwelling houses, mills and other buildings, 
edifices and shops." 

Daniel Smith's store and dock were no doubt well patronized by the 
surrounding settlers. The river was the main avenue of commerce, and 
down its waters were carried the products of the country in vessels 
which returned laden with goods to meet the wants of the inhabitants. 
The sailing advertisements of two of these vessels are as follows: 

" For New York— The Sloop Confidence, John Grigg, Master, Daniel 

Smith. Owner. Will sail from Smith's Dock for New lork on the fol- 
lowing Fridays, wind and weather permitting. * * * * Daniel Smith 
is about to erect a Dock to the Channel Bank, which will enable the 
vessels to go off at any time of tide. 

.March 12, 1804. JOHN GRIGG." 

"The Well Accommodated Sloop Catharine. William Wandell, Owner 
and Master. Will sail from Daniel Smith's dock for New York on the 
following Fridays, wind and weather permitting. * * * 

April 2, 1804. WILLIAM WAXDFLL." 

At about this time Henry Butterworth carried on an extensive business 
a l Balmville, where lie kept a store and was engaged in the freighting 
business from Smith's dock. His store was on the south side of the 
highway at the foot of the hill nearly opposite Daniel Smith's. It was 
a general country store, and in it was located the Post Office. In 1M-. 
Henry Butterworth, with Daniel Smith and John 1. Caverly, owned the 
sloop Dread, which sailed from Smith's dock. 

There were also two brick yards on the river front. The norther- 
most belonged to Daniel Gardner and later to Jacob Gillis, who operated 
it for some time: the other was conducted by Isaac Belknap, Junior, on 
his lands south of Downing Avenue. The yards were in operation until 
thirty or forty years ago, and the ruins of the docks connected witli them 
can still be seen. 



Balmville. 57 



BALMVILLE FORTY YEARS AGO. 

The neighborhood in the vicinity of the river had by this time under- 
gone a notable change. The mercantile and freighting establishments 
had disappeared, and many residences, surrounded by well kept grounds, 
replaced the farm houses and roughly tilled fields of former years. At 
the northwest comer of North Street and the Balmville road was the 
residence of Mr. T. B. Shelton, formerly the property of Mr. Isaac Car- 
penter. On the opposite side of the Balmville road and thence eastward 
to the river, was a tract owned by Mr. Daniel Rogers. Next north was 
the residence of Mr. Allan M. Sherman, whose lands extended to the 
river. Adjoining his lands on the north, was the residence of Hon. John 
W. Brown, who purchased from Mr. Owen MoGaney in lbo5, and whose 
property also extended to the river. Mr. Aaron P. Johnes resided oppo- 
site. He purchased from Mr. Asa Sterling in 1850. Adjoining Mr. Brown's 
land on the north, was the property of Mr. David H. Barclay. He 
bought in 1843, from Mr. David Crawford, who obtained his title from 
Mr. Thomas Powell. Next north was the residence of Mr. Rufus R. 
Skeel. He purchased from Mr. Barclay in 1841). West of the Balmville 
road Mr. Saul had a greenhouse and nursery on a part of the Powelton 
farm. North of the nursery was the Powelton House. On the east 
side of the road north of Downing Avenue, was the residence of Mr. 
Walter S. Vail, who bought from Mr. Charles Downing. The property is 
now owned by Mrs. Munson G. Muir. Eastward was the residence of 
Mr. Henry Ball, now owned by Mr. James M. Wentz. Next north of Mr. 
Vail's property was the home of Mr. Charles Downing, who sold to Mr. 
Alfred Bridgeman, the present owner. Mr. Benjamin H. Mace's house 
is row the residence of Mr. Walton C. Tiffany. Mr. William H. Priest 
resided on the north, and sold in 1863, to Mr. Charles S. Jenkins. East- 
wardly was the property of Mr. Daniel B. St. John, who purchased from 
Mr. Mace. Northward was the farm of Mr. Odell S. Hathaway, extend- 
ing from the Balmville road to the river. Next north w r as the residence of 
Mr. David M. Clarkson. On the opposite side of the road, was the prop- 
erty of Mr. John S. Thayer, now owned by Mr. Henry C. Norton. West- 
ward, was the residence of Mr. John Thayer, owned now by the Misses 
Atwood. North and west, was the property of Mr. George Gordon. Mr. 
Henry K. Brown's residence is now owned by Mr. H. K. Bush-Brown. 
Mr. Brownlee Brown resided on lands now belonging to Mr. Clarence 
Gordon. Mr. Dailey lived on the west side of the road near the Balm 
of Gilead tree. North of the road leading to the river was the property 
of Mr. Warren Delano. Admiral Bell, U. S. N., owned the lands now 
belonging to Dr. Henry A. Waldron. On the road leading northeast from 
the Balm of Gilead tree, resided Mr. George A. Elliot, who afterwards 
sold to Mr. Edward R. Johnes. Opposite was the residence of Mr. Dem- 
ing, now owned by Mr. George W. Forsyth. Westward, was the resi- 
dence of Mr. Edwards, formerly of Mr. Frederick J. Betts. Mr. Jonathan 
W. Thomas resided where he now does. A short distance north on the 
east side of the road, was the residence of Mr. Josiah H. Burton. Mr. 
Henry W. Murtfeldt resided where he does now. 



58 Balmville. 



North of the tree on property of Mr. Frederick .1. I'.etts. resided Mr, 
Solomon Watts. On the wesl side of the Balmville road, where it turns 
over the hill, west of the tree, was the residence of Mr. Arthur Potts. 
Mr. John S. Purdy resided northward. Half way up the hill is the <>1<I 
school building. Northerly resided Mr. William C. Wardell, Mr. Christian 
Cook, Mr. Daniel A. Deyo, Mr. Crary, Mr. Nathaniel T. Hawkins. Mr. 
Josiah II. Merritl and Mr. Nathaniel ('overt. The M E. Church stood 
on the east side of the read nearly opposite a road leading westward. 
The parsonage was a short distance south, en the west side of the road. 
Mr. Bodine, Mr. Thomas li. Denton and Mr. .lames Russell resided on 
the road leading westward. On the road leading west from Balmville 
hamlet, east of the presenl school house, was the residence of Mr. .1. K. 
Wiles. WestwardJy, resided Mr. John B. Corwin, Mr. Richard Corwin 
and Mr. John Farnham. On the road running northwestwardly towards 
Fostertown, resided Mr. Walter Wells, Mr. Reuben II. Bloomer, Mrs. 
.lames Lee and Mr. Andrew .1. Bloomer. On the road leading north 
from Mr. Andrew .1. Bloomer's, resided Mr. Thomas Kenney, Mr. Samuel 
McCaw, Mrs. Mary II. Waring, Mr. Daniel Westlake and Mr. Daniel 
I Gardner. 

The statement in Joseph Pettengill's advertisement of L804, that his 
property, situated at the northeast corner of North Street and the Balm- 
villo road, was '•worthy the attention id' any gentleman who wishes to 
reside in a country scat," applied equally well to the neighborhood. This 
fact became fully recognized a half century later, and the rare beauty 
of the locality attracted thither many people, who selected it as a fair 
land wherein to dwell. 



. i 10 



